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All models produced excellent or very good
images. Image quality scores for SLRs and
pictur e quality scores for SLR-like models
are not directly comparable because they
are based on diffe rent test methods. All
the SLRs in the
Ra
tings except the Canon
(49) were tested in partnership with Inter-
national Consumer Research & Testing, an
o e 0
~
•
association of 37 consumer organizations
•
Availability
Most
model
s at sto res th rough February
2008
.
[xcellent
Very
Good
Fair
Po
or
good
including Consumers Union.
Reliability. Based on subscriber-
SLR-like
cameras
survey data,Olympus, Canon, Fujifilm, and
In
performance
order. Blue key numbers indicate Quick Picks.
Nikon have been reliable SLR brands.
Specifications
.
.-
--
QUICK
PICKS
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Among SLR-Iike models, capable
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performance at a modest price:
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40
Fujifilm (6 MP) $300
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42
Fujifilm (9 MP) $430
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For thosewhoneed
SL
R-sty
le
fea
t
ures
but abuilt-inlens.
These offer longer flash range and more
precise control over zoom and focusing
o e
eo
· · · •
40
FujifilmFin
eP
ixS6000fd
$3
00 6 24 10
.7
x
2.4
27
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than a compact. at lower cost than many
41
Leica
V-
LUX
1
850
10
26
12x 1.9
24.3
ee
oo
SLRs. Both have very good battery life,
42
Fujifilm
FinePix
S9100
430
9
26
10
.7x
2
18.4
e e
~
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· ·
10.7x opt ical zoom, image stabilizer, wide-
Overall
score
includes the same factors used in rating small cameras (page
40
).
angle zoom, and manual cont rols, and can
zoom while recording video, but they are
fairly heavy. The Fujifilm (40) has excel-
SLR
cameras
lent picture quality, very good shutte r lag,
In
performance
order. Blue key numbers indicate Quick
Picks
.
and excellent next-shot delay. If high reso-
Features
lution trumps speed, try the newer Fuji-
.
-----
film (42), which has very good picture
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47
Nikon (10 MP) $
800
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48
Olympus (10 MP) $800
43
Canon
EOS-30D
Di
gital[jJ $1
.000
8
28
12
.1
0
0 0
100-
3200
51
Nikon (6 MP) $600, CR Best Buy
44
Nikon
080[jJ 1,000
10
24
12.1
e 0 0
100-
32
00
All three are compact and lightweight for
an SLR and are very easy to use, with very
45
Sony
alphaO
SL
R-Al00K
800
10
22
11.
2
e 0 0
100
-
1600
good image quality and excellent battery
46
Nikon
0200
!D
1,700
10
33
11
.2
0 0 0
100
-1
600
life. Both Nikons include in-camera image
47
Nikon
D40X 800
10
19 14
e 0 0
100-3200
correction, such as cropping and filter
48
Olympus
Evolt E
-410
800
I
10 16
11
.2
e 0 0
100
-1
600
effects, plus software-based dust removal.
They also feature a2.5 percent spot meter
49
Canon
Di
gitalR
eb
elXti 800
I
10
20
12
.1
e 0 0
100
-1
600
and use the same metering system astheir
50
Pentax
K
l0D
800
I
10
28
10
.2
e
0 0
100
-1
600
pricier sibling, the Nikon (44), a fine and
!;l
lj
51
Nikon
040
600
I
6
18 14
e 0 0
.
20
0-32
00
rugged 10-megapixel model that accepts a
wide variety of lenses. The main advan-
52
Pentax
K10
0D
600
..
6
23 14
.8
e 0 0
200-
32
00
tages of the Nikon (47) over the Nikon
(51) ,
53
Sigma
SO
14
m 1,200
4.65 28
10
0 0 e
1
00-1600
are greater resolution;the ability to shoot 3
II
Priceisfor
bod
yonl
y.
frames per second, instead of 2.5, continu-
Guide
to
the Ratings
ously for up to 100 JPEGimages;and a low
Overall
score
is for the body only and is based on image quality, versatility, weight. ease of use, zooming capa-
ISO setting of 100 instead of 200. The
bility,
battery
life, and useful
featur
es. Displayed scores are rounded; model s are listed in
order
of precise overall
Olympus includes through-the-Iens live
score.
Megapixels
is in millions of elements.
Weight
is for the body only, includino battery.
Flash
range
is the
view with autofocus, with up to lOx magni-
maximum
claimed
for
a well-lighted SUbject. SLR image
quality
is based on expert
judgments
using images
fication with manual focus. It also features
taken at the best resolution and compression and viewed on a reference monitor, and on objective analytical test
hardware-based dust removal, fully cus-
data.
Battery
life
reflects the
numb
er of high-resolution photos taken
with
the batteries supplied, if the camera
tomizable
RAW+
JP
EG
, spot metering with
uses a proprietary size,or
with
rechargeable nickel-metal hydride AAs;
250
or more wasjudged excellent.
Image
a shadow- and highlight-based spot, and
stabilizer
shows models with that steadying feature.
AA
batter
ies denotes models using those.
Charger
is for the
batteries. ISO
settings
indicates
the
sensitivity range.
Price
is approximate retail (with lens). Models were tested
unlimited continuous shooting on a fast
with a high-quality, 50-mm same-brand lens.Kit lensescommonly bundled are:Canon18-55 mm EF-S,(Nikon D
80
)
card with HQ-quality JP
EG
.
AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135 mm, Sony 18-70 mm DT,(Nikon
D200)
AF Zoom-Nikkor ED18-55 mm, (Nikon
D40
x, D40)
AF-SOX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55 rnrn, Olympus14-42 mm, Pentax DA Zoom 18-55 rnrn, and Sigma 18
-50
mm.
42
CO
N SU M.ER R EPO R
TS
0 NO
VEMB
ER
2007
• Ex
pe
r t · Inde
pend
e
nt
· N
on
pr
o
fi
t